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  • Google Maps Integrates AI to Help EV Drivers Locate Chargers

    Google Maps Integrates AI to Help EV Drivers Locate Chargers

    American multinational tech company Google has just announced upcoming updates for its Google Maps and Search aimed at helping electric vehicle owners easily locate a charging station. Unsurprisingly, the system will heavily rely on artificial intelligence (AI).

    Google Maps to Leverage AI in Improving EV Charging Experience

    Google indicated in its recent blog that it will assign AI to summarize customer reviews of electric vehicle chargers in “the coming months.”

    This comprehensive summary will enable the system to offer drivers more precise directions to specific chargers, including those sitting in multi-level parking garages or more multi-level parking areas. Apart from providing directions, the app will also display the charger’s speed and availability.

    Google will also include more prompts in the app to urge EV drivers to submit a review after using a certain charger. The system will then feed the customer reviews into the algorithm to aid future AI-powered summaries generation.

    Google Maps will request its users share key information about their experience with a particular charger stall, such as whether the session was successful. It will also ask about the charging plug type they utilized.

    Moreover, Google Maps also disclosed that it will consider EV charger’s availability when users seek places to stop in overnight. It will add a charger filter to the travel search tool, enabling EV drivers to locate areas with charging plugs.

    Benefits

    Fast-charging stations tend to sit in some far-off corner of a parking garage. Some are even hidden behind buildings or in multi-level garages. Therefore, finding them takes too much time and effort.

    With Google Maps’ upcoming feature updates, EV owners using the web mapping service can benefit from an easier and faster approach to finding charging stations. 

    Google indicated that EV drivers may get directions like “Enter the underground parking lot and follow the signs toward the exit. Just before exiting, turn right.” 

    In hindsight, Google has previously explored using AI to enhance EV owners’ charging experience with route planning and plug location. With these new updates and the company’s unprecedented access to people and data, Google Maps may highly likely advance as the super app for electric vehicle charging. 

  • Google Maps to improve electric vehicle charging experience with a potential upgrade

    Google Maps to improve electric vehicle charging experience with a potential upgrade

    Google Maps, one of the leading web mapping platforms, may soon display Plug and Charge locations to enable a more seamless charging experience for electric vehicle owners, Android Authority reports, citing an APK teardown.

    For context, an APK teardown aids people in predicting new features that may be introduced on a service based on “work-in-progress code.”

    APK teardown hints at Plug and Charge locations

    Google Maps’ recent update hints that the app may soon offer a new convenience feature for electric vehicle drivers. The software update version 111.15.103’s APK teardown revealed that the app seems to be on track to display charging stations with Plug and Charge capabilities. 

    The potential inclusion of Plug and Charge locations in Google Maps will significantly aid owners in easily determining where stations to go in order to benefit from the more convenient sessions, even without using a mobile app or charging a subscription card.

    Presented below are the strings Android Authority spotted:

    <string name= “CAR_PLUG_AND_CHARGE_BODY”> “Charging stations with plug and charge let you charge more conveniently, without using your phone or charging card. You can set up plug and charge in your vehicle’s settings and payment app.” </string>

    <string name=”CAR_PLUG_AND_CHARGE_TITLE”>Plug and charge</string>

    <string name=”CAR_SEARCH_PLUG_AND_CHARGE”>Plug and charge</string>

    What is Plug and Charge technology?

    Plug and Charge technology is basically a streamlined electric vehicle charging method, enabling owners to charge without an app or charging card. It allows the car itself to manage the payment via the in-car systems.

    BMW also reportedly asserted that car authentication does not necessitate an internet connection, making Plug and Charge useful for secluded areas like underground parking lots.

    However, it is only currently available on several models from Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Ford, and General Motors, among others. 

    Other improvements

    Google currently has multiple electric vehicle-related features that ease owners’ charging experience amid the growing issues associated with public charging infrastructures.

    Google Maps aims to save parking location on Android Auto to let drivers know the vehicle’s location when the destination is a different area, Auto Evolution noted. Basically, drivers can use the app for walking directions, enabling them to continue utilizing it even after leaving the vehicle.

    In addition, Google Maps will also offer Immersive Views for routes. It will be initially limited to some regions, enabling owners to prepare for a trip to an unfamiliar destination. It will also soon include a visual update on mobile devices, terminating the location data and directions UI from dominating the entire screen. 

    Going back, Google’s initiative to support Plug and Charge technology uptake may soon encourage other electric automakers to also offer it through their electric vehicle models. By doing so, electric vehicle owners may soon benefit from a more streamlined charging process. However, it must be noted that there remains a possibility that the feature may not appear on the stable version of Google Maps. APKs tend to have strings of working features, but they are not guaranteed to reach public release. 

  • Google Maps to eliminate gas station display for EV owners

    Google Maps to eliminate gas station display for EV owners

    Google Maps has reportedly stopped offering gas stations from the list of categories in Android Auto for electric vehicle owners. With this adjustment, charging stations will start to appear as the top category in the list.

    Interestingly, the tech giant already announced these software changes last year. However, it seems that people have only started noticing it recently. 

    “To help people get the most relevant information when navigating, last year we added the ability for EV drivers to see a shortcut for charging stations instead of gas stations on Google Maps for Android Auto.”

    Pearl Xu, Google spokesperson (via The Verge)

    Spokesperson Xu further noted that the company has already implemented the update for EVs with built-in vehicle software of Google since 2020.

    Google Maps’ EV-focused features

    Ms. Pearl Xu provided the publication with Google Maps’ list of EV-focused capabilities: Refer to the table below:

    “Real-time charging port availability: Just search for “ev charging stations” in Google Maps, and you’ll see the real time availability of charging ports at nearby stations so you don’t have to wait in line. 

    Charging speed filters: The ‘very fast’ charging filter will help you easily find stations that have chargers of 150 kilowatts or higher. For many cars, this can give you enough power to fill up and get back on the road in less than 40 minutes. You can also use the “fast” chargers which will show you stations with chargers 50kW or higher.

    Plug type filters: You can also filter for stations that offer your EV’s plug type so you only see stations with plugs that are compatible with your car. 

    Adding charging stops to trips: On any trip that’ll require a charging stop, Maps will suggest the best stop based on factors like current traffic, your charge level and expected energy consumption. 

    Charging stations in search results: We’ll also show you in search results when places like a supermarket have charging stations on-site. So if you’re on your way to pick up groceries, you can more easily choose a store that also lets you charge your car there.”

    As mentioned, Google has already launched the Google Maps changes in 2022. However, it seems that EV owners are only starting to notice the update. The reason may be the increased number of EVs with Google built-in software. It includes Polestar 2, Cadillac Lyriq, Volvo XC40 Recharge, and the impending Acura ZDX.

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    Google’s move to make Google Maps more convenient for electric vehicle users is indeed remarkable. It will aid them to easily navigate Android Auto, especially those people that are not good with such technology.